Activated carbon as an inexpensive alternative for counter electrode in dye sensitized solar cells
Abstract
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) have attracted a lot of attention from solar industries
because of the low cost and high efficiency to convert energy from photo-to-electric. DSSCs
mainly consist three parts, photoelectrodes (a dye-sensitized nanocrystalline semiconductor),
electrolyte with redox couple and a counter-electrode. In this thesis report, a literature review was
first provided to establish the background of my research. Then in the experimental section,
activated carbons with KOH and microwave post-treatments were employed as counter electrodes
for DSSCs. Finally, in the results and discussion section, the I-V, CV, and EIS measurement results
confirm that the activated carbon counter electrode with KOH post-treatment showed higher power
conversion efficiency than Pt counter electrode. This would provide a promising approach to lower
the fabrication cost of DSSCs.
Description
Thesis (M.S.)-- Wichita State University, College of Engineering, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
This thesis is embargoed till the end of August 2020.